Heat exchanger



D. A, HARRIS Feb. 7, 1939.

HEAT EXCHANGER INVENTOR Donald/4. HQ/P/S Filed Dec. 5, 1936 BY T TORNZ Patented Feb. 7,1939

PATENT OFFICE HEAT EXCHANGER Donald A. Harris, Hammond, Ind., assignor to Standard Oil Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Indiana Application December 5, 1936, Serial No. 114,351

2 Claims.

This invention relates to fluid treating apparatus and particularly to a heat exchanger.

In the treatment of various fluids it is often necessary to bring about an exchange of heat 5 between two fluid streams. An object of the present invention is to provide a heat exchanger in which a heating fluid and a fluid to be heated are passed through adjacent conduitsthrough 'the walls of which a heat exchange may take place, the parts being so constructed and arranged as to form a compact device which is readily assembled and disassembled.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a heat exchanger wherein a heating fluid and a fluid to be heated are passed through adjacent conduits, lying substantially parallel to each other, and wherein the relative capacities of the two are predetermined.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a heat exchanger having a plurality of conduits defining parallel paths of flow for fluids therein, the conduits being readily replaceable with other conduitsfor the purpose of varying the relative capacities of the said parallel conduits.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide, in a heat exchange unit of the type wherein there is an outer shell with means for introducing a stream of fluid therein and means for discharging said stream therefrom and a helical-like pipe therein adapted to contain a second stream of fluid, means for confining said first stream of fluid in said shell about said helical pipe, and in a path substantially the same as that defined by the said helical pipe.

My invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawing in which:-

Figure 1 is a view partly in section showing the shell in its relation to the coil and core.

Figure 2 is an end elevation with the vvheads removed.

Figure 3 shows a modification wherein there is a close fit between the shell, pipe and core.

Referring particularly to Figure 1 of the draw- 7 ing, the heat exchanger comprises a cylindrical shell I, closed at each end by duplicate remov- "able heads 2. These heads may be fastened to the shell by any appropriate means such as the bolts 3, shown. It is apparent that at least one of these heads may be formed integral with the shell.

The shell is provided with pipe means 4, for introducing a fluid stream adjacent one end thereof, and pipe means i, for discharging this 55 fluid located adjacent the other end thereof.

means as comprising pipes 1, 8, which pass 5 through openings 2a in the respective heads 2.

' The openings 2a in the heads 2 about the pipes I and 8 are provided with suitable packing means comprising a nut 217 for maintaining a tight relation between the packin the pipe and the 10 head. To remove the heads it is only necessary to remove the nuts 2b and 3.

I further provide a core '9 within said helix 6, as shown in the preferred embodiment of my invention in Figure 1. I show this core as solid 15 but it may as readily be hollow and closed at its ends. This core may be formed of any suitable material such for example as wood, Bakelite, aluminium, etc. I have found that aluminium stock of the type commonly referred to as free 20 cutting is particularly well adapted for the core as it can be readily machined to give the desired form. This core is formed with a helical groove about the outside thereof, which groove corresponds to the convolutions of the helical pipe and 25 is adapted to receive the said convolutions therein. The outside diameter of the core is such that there is a close fit between the shell and the core.

With this formation of core and relationship 30 of core to shell it is readily apparent that a confined path of flow about the outside of said helical pipe in a path substantially the same as that defined by the helical pipe is accomplished. This flow may be in the same direction as the 35 flow within the helical pipe, or counter-current thereto, the latter being preferable.

It is further apparent that the core and pipe may be readily removed, and replaced by a core having a groove of a different size, or a pipe of 4 a different capacity, to thus give a very flexible ratio of flow in the two streams.

' Figure 3 shows a slight modification of Figure 1 wherein there is a close fit between the inside of the shell, the helical pipe and the core. In the modification shown in Figure 3 the root Ill of the helical groove is shown as a smooth curve while the outside diameter ofthe core is shown as having a substantially flat surface H. The function of this flat surface is to give a more perfect seal with the inside of said shell.

I propose that the flt between the core and the shell shall be substantially fluid tight.

Since many different embodiments of this invention, apparently differing widely, may be made 2 without departing from the spirit thereof, it is to be understood that I do not wish to limit myself by the foregoing description except as indicated in the following claims.

I claim:" I f 1. In a heat exchanger including a tubular shell having a smooth inner periphery, suitable heads for closing the ends of said shell, pipe means adjacent one end of said shell for introducing a first stream of liquid therein, and pipe means adjacent the other end of said shell for discharging said stream therefrom, a helical pipe located withinsaid shell and between the above mentioned inlet and outlet, communicating pipe means connecting said helical pipe with a second fiuid stream, exterior to said shell; the combination therewith of a core, said core being located within said helical coil and being formed with a helical groove about the periphery thereof corresponding in position to the convolutions of said helical pipe and of a sufficient depth to completely receive said helical pipe therein, the outside diameterof said core being substantially the same as the inside diameter of said shell whereby a seal fit is obtained between said core and said shell, and whereby the inner periphery of said shell and said helical groove form a confined path of fiow for said first stream parallel with the path of flow of said second stream congo tained within said helical pipe, means for removing the heads at the ends of said shell and means for disconnecting the helical pipe from said second fluid stream whereby said helical pipe and said ,core may be removed as aunit from said shell.

,2. In a heat exchange device, a smooth inner surface casing provided with a shoulder at each of its ends and having fluid inlet and outlet means adjacent the opposite ends thereof, a heat exchange unit includinga helical pipe coil having located within the same a core formed with said helical pipe coil, means for forming a seal fit between said openings in said headers and with the ends-of the helical pipe coil extending therethrough, and meansfor removing said headers from the ends of the casing whereby the helical pipe coil and the'grooved core may be removed as a unit from said casing.

. DONALD A. HARRIS. 

